The Assassination

I seem to write a lot about films that people have missed over the years, but I find that it is important to keep these diamonds in the rough glistening for all to see.  This entry will be no exception.  With all of the Oscar buzz surrounding "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" this year, another film with a western theme seemed to be left in the shadows.

That film was "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."

Wow, what a title huh?  If that's not a mouthful then I don't know what is.   At any rate, "The Assassination" (as I will now refer to it) is a beautifully shot, intrinsically moody and an undeniably haunting tale about the final days and assassination of Jesse James, played by Brad Pitt.  Pitt is joined by Casey Affleck (Robert Ford), Sam Rockwell (Charley Ford), and Paul Schneider (Dick Liddil); all of whom give brilliant performances, in particular Casey Affleck.

Affleck plays Robert Ford, the brother of a member of the James' Gang who is seeking entry to the posse.  Through some stroke of luck, Robert Ford is admitted to the gang where he begins to idolize Jesse and emulating his every move.  After being ridiculed by James for his awkwardness and youthfulness, Ford begins his plot to assassinate James.

This is where the film gets really good.  Affleck carries an eerie mood with him throughout the entire movie.  From start to finish, you never really feel like you can trust his character.  According to Roger Ebert, Affleck exhibits an almost homosexual-like obsession over his leader James.  "[He's] certainly not gay, but the Coward is so powerfully mesmerized by him that hero worship shades into lust," Ebert said.  Affleck's performance alone warrants a viewing of this film.

In addition to the wonderful acting all around, the film has a beautiful art direction and a magnificent sense of cinematography.  Gorgeous landscapes, intricate portraits and attention to detail (as far as the time period is concerned) hold "The Assassination" together at the seams.

The film is, however, a slow ride.  These beautiful moments are strung together almost like a series of moving still-life's.  Much of the story is told through the emotions and brilliant acting of the characters with the occasional voice over to add detail and narrative when needed.  Even still, I believe that this was done very intentionally as to keep the audience guessing what James was feeling as much as the other characters in the film.  

In addition to the exquisite visuals, the story-line is fascinating.  Just don't expect the film to shovel it down your throat in 90 minutes.  This puppy is a whopping 160 minutes (almost 3 hours), but it's well worth the wait.

If you consider yourself a patient movie-goer, then look no further than "The Assasination of Jesse James."  I guarantee you will find yourself lost in the beautiful aesthetics and remarkable acting in the film.  Just make sure you take a nap before the movie so you can make it through in one sitting.

(Photo taken from www.slashfilm.com)